INTERPOL Arrests 27 Kenyans in Massive Ksh5.8 Billion Online Fraud Crackdown
The INTERPOL arrests 27 Kenyans operation has exposed a massive online fraud syndicate that left thousands of victims counting heavy losses across Africa and beyond.
The INTERPOL announced that 27 Kenyan suspects were apprehended during a sweeping cybercrime crackdown targeting online investment scams, mobile money fraud, and fake digital loan applications.
The coordinated operation ran between December 8, 2025, and January 30, 2026, spanning 16 African countries.
How the Fraud Network Operated
According to investigators, the suspects operated sophisticated scam networks that relied heavily on messaging apps and social media platforms to lure unsuspecting victims.
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Fraudsters reportedly persuaded victims to deposit small “initial investments” — sometimes as little as Ksh6,400 ($50) — after promising unusually high returns.
To make the scheme appear legitimate, the scammers created fabricated dashboards and financial statements showing false profits.
“Victims were shown fabricated account statements or dashboards, but withdrawal requests were systematically blocked,” said INTERPOL’s Director of the Cybercrime Directorate Neal Jetton.
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Once victims attempted to withdraw their supposed profits, communication would suddenly cease, and access to their accounts would be restricted.
Ksh5.8 Billion in Losses
Authorities revealed that the Kenyan cases were part of a wider transnational scam network responsible for financial losses exceeding Ksh5.8 billion.
“During the eight-week operation, investigations exposed scams linked to over $45 million in financial losses and identified 1,247 victims, predominantly from the African continent but also from other regions of the world,” INTERPOL revealed.
The scale of the operation shocked investigators, who described the network as highly organised and technologically advanced.
Hundreds Arrested, Millions Recovered
Across the 16 participating African nations, law enforcement agencies made 651 arrests during the crackdown.
Officials also recovered over Ksh580 million in stolen funds.
In addition, security agencies seized more than 2,300 electronic devices and dismantled over 1,400 malicious servers, domains and Internet Protocol (IP) addresses used to facilitate the fraud.
The operation marked one of the largest coordinated cybercrime crackdowns on the continent.
INTERPOL Issues Stern Warning
Neal Jetton warned that organised cybercriminal groups continue to exploit vulnerable individuals with convincing digital tactics.
“These organised cybercriminal syndicates inflict devastating financial and psychological harm on individuals, businesses and entire communities with their false promises,” Jetton said.
He urged victims of online fraud to report incidents to law enforcement authorities, stressing that international cooperation remains active in dismantling cybercrime networks.
Growing Threat of Online Investment Scams
Cybercrime experts note that online investment scams are becoming increasingly sophisticated, often using professional-looking websites, fake testimonials, and manipulated data dashboards.
Authorities are urging Kenyans to verify digital platforms before investing and to avoid schemes promising guaranteed high returns.
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INTERPOL Arrests 27 Kenyans in Massive Ksh5.8 Billion Online Fraud Crackdown
